20 THE CARNATION. 



inquiry is, how it may be improved, and made to con- 

 tribute in a higher degree to vegetation. 



I shall now proceed to describe the process which 

 I have used for its amelioration, and state the differ- 

 ent component parts or ingredients which I have 

 mixed and put together as a compost for Carnations, 

 the same which I have used with success for some 

 years, and which I now beg to recommend to my 

 brother florists for trial. 



COMPOST, MODE OF PREPARING IT, &c. 



IN putting the different soils together for compost, 

 particular care must be taken to make it of such 

 consistency, that, when in pots, the water shall neither 

 pass through it too rapidly, nor lodge too long in it ; 

 both are hurtful. If the loam be of a strong, stiff 

 nature, it will require a greater portion of sand to be 

 added ; if light, it will require less. You will there- 

 fore, in the first instance, be guided by the nature 



